ONEONTA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College field hockey team got back in action on Saturday afternoon when it clashed against Hartwick in an Empire 8 showdown that had serious postseason implications. Although the Bombers dominated play over vast stretches of the contest, the Hawks were able to score a crucial victory to grab a leg-up with two conference games left to play.
 
With the two teams deadlocked at 2-2 following 70 minutes of play, the contest went to overtime, the Bombers first contest to go beyond regulation this season. Although IC nearly won the game a handful of times during the extra-session, firing eight shots on goal, it was Hartwick that found the decisive goal in the 83^rd minute of the contest. Maria Stalder scored her second of the game with 2:44 remaining in the first overtime session to deal Ithaca a bitter defeat to swallow.
 
It was day filled with frustratingly close missed opportunities for the Bombers who were repeatedly stymied by Hartwicks' excellent goalkeeper, Shannon Carter. The Hawks keeper stopped 18 shots, 17 of which came after halftime to pave the way for the home side to steal a win Ithaca more than deserved.
 
The first half was fairly even as the two sides felt each other out over the opening 35 minutes. IC and Hartwick combined for 12 total shot attempts in the half, but it was Hartwick that took a 2-1 lead to the halftime break.
 
The Bombers got on the board first in the contest, as senior, Cassie Schuttrumpf, scored for the second straight contest at exactly the 15 minute mark. Meg Dowd sparked the play with an excellent lead-pass to Schuttrumpf down the middle of the Hartwick defense. The senior ripped a hard shot past Carter to give Ithaca a 1-0 lead.
 
The Hawks responded just over six minutes later when Rebecca Reilly sent home a shot off a redirection from Mikaelan Stuligross. Hartwick pulled ahead 3:20 later when Stalder scored her first of two on the day, depositing a shot past Ithaca keeper, Katie Lass, off of a net-front scrum.
 
Seeking an equalizer, IC kicked its offense into high gear during the second session. The Bombers dominated the territorial advantage, out-shooting the Hawks 19-to-2 during the final 35 minutes of regulation.
 
Senior, Colleen Keegan-Twombly, finally leveled the contest at 2-2 in the 60^th minute of play. She received a pass from Schuttrumpf and fired a laser past Carter for her 10^th goal of the season.
 
Ithaca continued to push the pace down the stretch, but was repeatedly turned away by Carter, who made clutch saves to set the stage from Stalders' dramatic winner. IC outshot Hartwick 33-to-11 in the game, which included a 20-to-6 edge in shots on goal.
 
Ithaca returns to action on Tuesday, October 18, when it welcomes SUNY Oneonta for a 4:00 p.m. non-conference clash at Higgins Stadium.